A so-called 'iPad mini' reportedly in the works at Apple for a late 2012 release may be the first of the company's tablet devices to include displays coated with indium tin oxide (ITO), an electrically conductive transparent substance that acts as an EMI shield and helps reduce radio interference.

A Taiwan company by the name of Efun Technology has reportedly seen profits double in recent years due to its production of flexible substrates coated with iTO films. The super-thin and lightweight coatings help reduce radio frequency interference in mobile devices while also acting as electromagnetic shields.

Much of the company's recent success has reportedly come from applications of its ITO technology on Samsung's mobile handsets, but the more recent buzz around the firm's forward-looking prospects reportedly hinges on rumors that Apple has become its latest customer ahead of launching its much-rumored iPad mini tablet.

The 7.85-inch device will reportedly be the first from the Cupertino-based company to employ Efun's ITO technology, as reports out of the Far East suggest that the fourth-generation 9.7-inch iPad will also receive the same treatment closer to its launch next year.

In addition to benefiting from ITO applications, Efun has also reportedly seen increased profits due to shipments of micro-lens films used in LCD TVs for Japan- and Korea-based customers. It's said to be the only producer among Taiwan-based makers of optical films.

Meanwhile, backlight unit suppliers for existing iPad designs are said to be bracing for a near-term hit to revenues as Apple adjusts orders for its industry-leading tablets in preparation for the launch of the iPad mini.

A so-called 'iPad mini' reportedly in the works at Apple for a late 2012 release may be the first of the company's tablet devices to include displays coated with indium tin oxide (ITO), an electrically conductive transparent substance that acts as an EMI shield and helps reduce radio interference.
A Taiwan company by the name of Efun Technology has reportedly seen profits double in recent years due to its production of flexible substrates coated with iTO films. The super-thin and lightweight coatings help reduce radio frequency interference in mobile devices while also acting as electromagnetic shields.
Much of the company's recent success has reportedly come from applications of its ITO technology on Samsung's mobile handsets, but the more recent buzz around the firm's forward-looking prospects reportedly hinges on rumors that Apple has become its latest customer ahead of launching its much-rumored iPad mini tablet.
The 7.85-inch device will reportedly be the first from the Cupertino-based company to employ Efun's ITO technology, as reports out of the Far East suggest that the fourth-generation 9.7-inch iPad will also receive the same treatment closer to its launch next year.
In addition to benefiting from ITO applications, Efun has also reportedly seen increased profits due to shipments of micro-lens films used in LCD TVs for Japan- and Korea-based customers. It's said to be the only producer among Taiwan-based makers of optical films.
Meanwhile, backlight unit suppliers for existing iPad designs are said to be bracing for a near-term hit to revenues as Apple adjusts orders for its industry-leading tablets in preparation for the launch of the iPad mini.

Mot likely this is just being poorly explained but I don't see the benefit. There's a problem with EM radiation penetrating a mobile device from the front through the screen? If it's such a benefit, what is the benefit exactly. Do Samsung's phones with this layer perform better? How? It all seems very sketchy to me.

I hope it goes underneath some other coating as well. It seems like a bad idea from the get-go to coat a surface that millions of people touch everyday with a chemical of unknown properties.

Meanwhile, backlight unit suppliers for existing iPad designs are said to be bracing for a near-term hit to revenues as Apple adjusts orders for its industry-leading tablets in preparation for the launch of the iPad mini.

An iPad mini would certainly cannibalise an iPad sale from me. When I originally bought an iPad I was not sure what I wanted to use it for, but wanted to try out the new paradigm and see what happened. I think maybe Steve envisioned it like a general purpose tablet like people use in Sci Fi movies.

In reality, I continued to use a computer as a general purpose device and mostly used the iPad for reading books, and any emails that arrived while I was reading, and light web browsing when the book got boring. Given that outcome, an iPad mini would probably make more sense.

Obviously, those naysayers saying that the 7" range of tablets has no market is completely wrong.

More importantly, those same people (due to their stubborn belief that Apple will not "stoop that low" and follow market trend) believed that Apple will "never" produce a tablet in between the size of the iPad and the iPhone, and that they dont see a reason for it. Also, many of those people stated that it will only introduce "fragmentation" into the world of iOS.